Blazers trade for Robert Covington

[Blazinaway]

Not sure his defense is outweighing his lack of shooting at this point. Real ugly season from him.

he's shooting better from 3 (30.9%) then his overall FG% (below 30%!) which is flat out awful, his scoring avg this year is almost half his avg from recent seasons, sure hope he improves as right now he is not al all worth the price we paid for him IMO

[Dame Lizard]

It's a fairly small sample size. Hopefully it's just a rut.

I'm preferring DJJ over RoCo so far though.

[BlazersBroncos]

Both DJJ and RoCo have been so poor on offense that its outweighing their defense. IDK if either are palying above an Ime Udkoa level right now. Their poor shooting is a big reason we are not flying out of the gate. They miss tons of open shots.

[d-train]

RoCo and DJJ have taken only 172 shots. Efficient scoring would be 202 points, just 27 more than they scored. That's 2.1 p/g. Is there defense worth 2.1 p/g? I think their willingness to give the shots to Lillard, CJ, Nurk, Kanter, Melo, and GTJ is worth 2.1 p/g. The defense is bonus.

[Soulyss]

Both DJJ and RoCo have been so poor on offense that its outweighing their defense. IDK if either are palying above an Ime Udkoa level right now. Their poor shooting is a big reason we are not flying out of the gate. They miss tons of open shots.

Roco and his shooting are far more likely to improve towards historic averages.. DJJ... he's always going to be terrible on Offense... he CANNOT shoot. Love the hustle, and the length... he can absolutely fly... But what you see is what you are going to get.

[BlazersBroncos]

Roco and his shooting are far more likely to improve towards historic averages.. DJJ... he's always going to be terrible on Offense... he CANNOT shoot. Love the hustle, and the length... he can absolutely fly... But what you see is what you are going to get.

Agreed. I was initially looking at DJJ a bit too optimistically, hoping he could be a late bloomer that becomes a sort of Gerald Wallace lite'. He clearly just isnt that guy. I love his highlights, but wouldnt take him over Mo or Chief to be honest.

RoCo's shot seems visibly off right now. Like you can tell its not going in most of the time, its that bad.

[monopoman]

I think DJJ is not being utilized properly for his game, he should be getting more lobs to the basket or cuts to the basket and setup. I mean we are starting to see that more, but we still only get like one or two a game at most. This would help get him going with some easy buckets and force the other team to fear a DJJ cut. I think RoCo is just in a bit of a rut, hopefully he can turn it around in the near future.

[Epicurus]

I think DJJ is not being utilized properly for his game, he should be getting more lobs to the basket or cuts to the basket and setup. I mean we are starting to see that more, but we still only get like one or two a game at most. This would help get him going with some easy buckets and force the other team to fear a DJJ cut. I think RoCo is just in a bit of a rut, hopefully he can turn it around in the near future.

How many extra turnovers per game are you willing to exchange for more lobs to Jones? Right now, it looks like connection is a 50/50 proposition.

[monopoman]

I think DJJ is not being utilized properly for his game, he should be getting more lobs to the basket or cuts to the basket and setup. I mean we are starting to see that more, but we still only get like one or two a game at most. This would help get him going with some easy buckets and force the other team to fear a DJJ cut. I think RoCo is just in a bit of a rut, hopefully he can turn it around in the near future.

How many extra turnovers per game are you willing to exchange for more lobs to Jones? Right now, it looks like connection is a 50/50 proposition.

I think he has done a decent job corralling them, and it's not like Lillard and CJ are used to throwing them up. In the Stotts offense before we got DJJ it felt like we would see 1 lob attempt every 5-6 games.

[Soulyss]

I think DJJ is not being utilized properly for his game, he should be getting more lobs to the basket or cuts to the basket and setup. I mean we are starting to see that more, but we still only get like one or two a game at most. This would help get him going with some easy buckets and force the other team to fear a DJJ cut. I think RoCo is just in a bit of a rut, hopefully he can turn it around in the near future.

How many extra turnovers per game are you willing to exchange for more lobs to Jones? Right now, it looks like connection is a 50/50 proposition.

I think he has done a decent job corralling them, and it's not like Lillard and CJ are used to throwing them up. In the Stotts offense before we got DJJ it felt like we would see 1 lob attempt every 5-6 games.

I do wish the Blazers ran more sets, and movement... and 25% less pure P&R... that said, I don't think it really would change much for DJJ. Plus... Do you build your offense around your best assets or your worst? The offense is TAILORED to Lillard and CJ, DJJ and RoCo are getting open shots and not converting. Honestly RoCo will recover and the offense is fine, and always will be fine..

The real problem is and continues to be the defense. I know people love DJJ length and steals... but honestly, last season he was a net negative on defense for Miami (via Espn's RPM)... they haven't published this year's yet... but I have my doubts that it will be much kinder. He really struggles tracking a player through screens... ironically he might be GREAT in the Blazers old screen were he would drop, because of his length could still get up in the face of a mid-range shooter.

I think you are going to see Portland revert to their old defensive sets... soon. They may try and re-incorporate more aggressive tactics next season with a full off-season to prepare.

[Sinobas]

I thought Trevor Ariza was better for us last year in his short stint. RoCo was supposed to be an upgrade over him. So far he hasn't even been better than Aminu.

[BlazersBroncos]

I thought Trevor Ariza was better for us last year in his short stint. RoCo was supposed to be an upgrade over him. So far he hasn't even been better than Aminu.

Given the cost, I would take Ariza and Batum right now over Covington and DJJ.

Ariza was better in his short stint than either of the new guys and Batum has been much better than either as well in LAC.

The level of play that RoCo has given us so far is worth about a middle 20's pick, nowhere near the 16th and a 2021 1st.

[PDXKnight]

I thought Trevor Ariza was better for us last year in his short stint. RoCo was supposed to be an upgrade over him. So far he hasn't even been better than Aminu.

Given the cost, I would take Ariza and Batum right now over Covington and DJJ.

Ariza was better in his short stint than either of the new guys and Batum has been much better than either as well in LAC.

The level of play that RoCo has given us so far is worth about a middle 20's pick, nowhere near the 16th and a 2021 1st.

Worrying about 2 late first round picks seems a bit petty. Even if the move fails us seems like it was a worthy gamble given that the picks are lotto protected

[BlazersBroncos]

Worrying about 2 late first round picks seems a bit petty. Even if the move fails us seems like it was a worthy gamble given that the picks are lotto protected

16 really isnt a late first round pick unless your rounding from 15 down lol.

Saddiq or Precious have shown to be 2-way players so far and either would have a role, and minutes, on this team. Its hard to argue that either of them, plus our 2021 1st, wouldnt be better for this team now and in the future than RoCo. Or at least the version of RoCo that has landed in Portland so far.

[Wizenheimer]

Worrying about 2 late first round picks seems a bit petty. Even if the move fails us seems like it was a worthy gamble given that the picks are lotto protected

15 Giannis Antetokounmpo
24 Tim Hardaway Jr.
27 Rudy Gobert

16 Jusuf Nurkić
19 Gary Harris
23 Rodney Hood
25 Clint Capela
27 Bogdan Bogdanović
33 Joe Harris
38 Spencer Dinwiddie
39 Jerami Grant
41 Nikola Jokić
45 Dwight Powell
46 Jordan Clarkson

15 Kelly Oubre Jr.
16 Terry Rozier
22 Bobby Portis
27 Larry Nance Jr.
32 Montrezl Harrell
40 Josh Richardson

19 Malik Beasley
20 Caris LeVert
27 Pascal Siakam
29 Dejounte Murray
32 Ivica Zubac
36 Malcolm Brogdon

14 Bam Adebayo
19 John Collins
22 Jarrett Allen
23 OG Anunoby
29 Derrick White
30 Josh Hart
42 Thomas Bryant
45 Dillon Brooks

14 Michael Porter Jr.
17 Donte DiVincenzo
19 Kevin Huerter
23 Aaron Holiday
26 Landry Shamet
34 Devonte' Graham
36 Mitchell Robinson
37 Gary Trent Jr.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Wiz, you have way too much time on your hands pal.

[d-train]

I thought Trevor Ariza was better for us last year in his short stint. RoCo was supposed to be an upgrade over him. So far he hasn't even been better than Aminu.

Given the cost, I would take Ariza and Batum right now over Covington and DJJ.

Ariza was better in his short stint than either of the new guys and Batum has been much better than either as well in LAC.

The level of play that RoCo has given us so far is worth about a middle 20's pick, nowhere near the 16th and a 2021 1st.

We paid less than 2 1st round picks for RoCo. Keeping Ariza wasn't an option. Ariza left the Blazers when he deserted his teammates by opting out of the bubble and playoffs. Paying $1.8M to dump his contract was better than polluting our roster with a player not committed to our team.

By trading Ariza we were able to raise the talent level of our team using a CBA exception to spend $12M over the cap on a bargain contract. And, save $1.8M in dead money against our cap we can now spend on players. All this is worth more than the 16th pick.

RoCo is absolutely an upgrade over Ariza. He's not a huge upgrade, but he is a very worthwhile upgrade. Additionally, he is an example of what it takes for an NBA role player to succeed. Guys like GTJ, Simons, Little, Giles, and Elleby can see by example a path they can follow to a long productive NBA career.

[GEE]

When the season began I was a bit concerned with playing both DJJ & ROCO in the starting lineup. Now, I'm becoming convinced it is the same exact thing as MO & Chief. Since LA left, we haven't played a real PF and ran with two SF... Playing small.

Ideally, if we can get healthy, we should hope to have a much bigger rotation for the playoffs. (Long-Term) I'd prefer to see Giles as the backup to Collins at PF, but I don't think it will happen under Stotts. I constantly worry about player's health and wonder how much guys playing out of their ideal position affects this. ROCO at PF, Collins & Giles at C, etc... should be avoided as much as possible IMO. Just bigger line-ups overall hopefully, if/when we can get healthy.

Dame / CJ
CJ(IR) / Hood / GTJ
ROCO / DJJ / Hood
Collins(IR) / Melo / Giles
Nurkic(IR) / Kanter / Giles

[d-train]

When the season began I was a bit concerned with playing both DJJ & ROCO in the starting lineup. Now, I'm becoming convinced it is the same exact thing as MO & Chief. Since LA left, we haven't played a real PF and ran with two SF... Playing small.

Ideally, if we can get healthy, we should hope to have a much bigger rotation for the playoffs. (Long-Term) I'd prefer to see Giles as the backup to Collins at PF, but I don't think it will happen under Stotts. I constantly worry about player's health and wonder how much guys playing out of their ideal position affects this. ROCO at PF, Collins & Giles at C, etc... should be avoided as much as possible IMO. Just bigger line-ups overall hopefully, if/when we can get healthy.

Dame / CJ
CJ(IR) / Hood / GTJ
ROCO / DJJ / Hood
Collins(IR) / Melo / Giles
Nurkic(IR) / Kanter / Giles

That's the starting lineup Blazers were working towards, but it will never happen. The cost this summer will be tremendous and there will be no opportunity for this group to prove it's worth. It's a team built on theoretical chemistry. You don't pay for chemistry until after the results prove the theory.

Collins, DJJ, GTJ, Kanter, Hood, and Giles are all up for contracts. The players we most want to keep will be the most expensive. There's not much money left after paying almost $75M to Lillard and CJ.

[PDXKnight]

Worrying about 2 late first round picks seems a bit petty. Even if the move fails us seems like it was a worthy gamble given that the picks are lotto protected

16 really isnt a late first round pick unless your rounding from 15 down lol.

Saddiq or Precious have shown to be 2-way players so far and either would have a role, and minutes, on this team. Its hard to argue that either of them, plus our 2021 1st, wouldnt be better for this team now and in the future than RoCo. Or at least the version of RoCo that has landed in Portland so far.

I’m not debating hindsight, that makes the choice more clear one way or another. I’m merely saying the move at the time was sensible I’d contend. And very rarely does a team land that star player. It takes a lot of luck, sure it happens but usually the blazers are not the ones in on that

Truly mid round firsts don’t hold Much value anyhow at least in a trade market basis. We could worry about what could have been but honestly I think by the end of the year roco will prove he was worth the cost anyhow, or at least comparable to the cost. There was some risk in the deal of course but I’d contend it was a worthwhile gamble and one that’ll likely look quite a bit better at the end of the year given that roco has literally played the worst 15 games of his career in terms of efficiency